Find your adventure at Bays Mountain Park this fall

Starting this month, you and your family can enjoy these activities at Bays Mountain Park.

DAY HIKES

Enjoy the cooler weather and the beautiful colors of autumn with a guided hike to points of interest within the park. The guided day hikes will begin at 10 a.m. and will go to the fire tower and along the lake side. These hikes are limited to 15 participants. Tickets are $3 per person and free for park members.

ZIP LINE RIDES

Experience the thrill of a twilight zip line ride on the Flying Squirrel, with only a headlamp and the soft glow of lights strung along the platform to guide your way. The cost is $25 per person for non-members and $15 per person for park members. Program times are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and you can “zip” along the line the whole three hours.

GEOCACHING

Learn what geocaching is and how you do it with the geocaching class. You’ll learn to use a GPS device in order to find hidden caches. During this session, participants will have the opportunity to use their mobile devices to find a variety of caches in the park. The cost is $3 per person and will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Discovery Theater.

MAP & COMPASS

A map is a crucial tool for accurate navigation, especially where trail signs, blazes and markers are absent. In the Map and Compass class, you’ll learn how to navigate using specific coordinates and how to take specific coordinates and pair them with a map to find hidden flags in a specific area. The cost is $3 per person and free for park members. Space is limited to 20 guests and the program will take place in the Discovery Theater from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

TWILIGHT BARGE RIDE

Spend a relaxing evening on the lake enjoying the beautiful shoreline scenery from the comfort of the barge or your personal canoe or kayak. The twilight barge rides are $5 per person and free for park members. The canoe/kayak tour is $10 per person and free for park members. The canoe/kayak tour is limited to 20 watercraft, and participants must provide their own canoe/kayak and a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device. Twilight barge rides start at 7 p.m. and canoe/kayak tours start at 6 p.m.

Dates for these activities are as follows:

· Guided hikes — October 10 (Fire tower)

· Twilight zip line — September 29 and October 27

· Geocaching — Session 1: October 9. Session 2: October 16

· Map and compass — September 27

· Twilight barge rides — September 26 and October 24

· Canoe/kayak tour — September 25 and October 17 & 23

To reserve a spot for the twilight zip line ride, geocaching class, map and compass class, canoe/kayak tour or twilight barge rides, please call the Nature Center at (423) 229-9447. To reserve your spot for a guided hike, please visit the Nature Center on the day of the scheduled event to purchase a ticket.

For more information about Bays Mountain Park, call (423) 229-9447 or visit www.baysmountain.com.